On August 12, 2024, the Lawrence Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift as interim superintendent, effective August
30, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Larry Englebrick will act as superintendent until her start date.

“Dr. Swift is a woman with an over 30-year education career as an English and Spanish teacher, principal, and district-level administrator. She is a highly qualified interim superintendent candidate. The board’s initial confidence to select her as an interim superintendent is rooted in not only in her career accomplishments, but also in the formal feedback we received from both employee unions and the district leadership team, as well as parents and community members who serve on school board committees,” said Board President Kelly Jones.

“Since announcing her pending hire, I have in my capacity as board president received words of congratulations from individuals who worked directly with Dr. Swift in Ann Arbor Public Schools, including former school board members, teachers, parents, and staff, who praised her as a superintendent. This input has further assured me that we are hiring a public educator who will work to build relationships and trust with the people who make up Lawrence Public Schools, and in particular our students,” Jones said.

“We are going to work very hard to create more opportunities for her to meet with Lawrence Public Schools’ staff and communities,” she said. “We want Lawrence to be led by someone who has the type of experience Dr. Swift has, and I am excited that we have this opportunity.”

In her remarks following a standing ovation by the board, Dr. Swift said, “It is a tremendous honor to be named the Interim Superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools. Many thanks to the students, staff and community members who gave their time during summer days to participate in the selection process - it was wonderful to meet so many folks and to have such enriching conversation… 

“Strong, vibrant communities are known for their care, engagement, and the priority they place on the learning and growth of their children, and sustaining high quality public schools to serve them. In Lawrence, we see that fundamental value lived in the collective commitment to students, staff, schools and community for which Lawrence Public Schools is well known. At the heart of this work is a shared responsibility to ensure educational equity and excellence and a culture of dignity and belonging for every child…

“Together, we will dedicate our energies to serving the students of the Lawrence Public Schools community and to supporting our teachers and staff, families, and community. I am committed to listening, learning, and engaging in the work together as a team, to fulfill the critical mission of ensuring a high-quality
educational experience for every child, every day,” Dr. Swift said.

Dr. Swift has served as an educational leadership consultant since January, supporting PreK-12 education leaders, leadership teams, and board trustees. She previously served the Ann Arbor Public Schools as superintendent for over a decade. In Colorado Springs School District 11, she served as assistant superintendent, executive director, principal, assistant principal, resource coach, and a secondary English and Spanish teacher for 13 years. She also taught ten of those years in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford School District in Texas. Dr. Swift earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, her master’s at the University of Colorado, and a doctorate at the University of Denver. 

The Michigan Association of School Administrators named Swift its Superintendent of the Year in 2018. The National School Public Relations Association recognized her as a Superintendent to Watch for demonstrating dynamic leadership with a strong emphasis on communication.

The board plans to hire a firm in the fall of 2024 to conduct a national search for a long-term superintendent to begin their service July 1, 2025. This timeline provides ample opportunity for expanded community engagement to guide the board in hiring the best person to lead our district and serve our community moving forward.

The Superintendent of Schools serves as the educational leader of the district, overseeing the educational development of its students and the professional development of its staff. The Superintendent maintains positive relationships with the Board of Education, teachers, staff, parents, university and business leaders, and the community to advance excellence in every aspect of the district’s operations.

The following is a list of superintendents who have led consolidated Lawrence Unified School District 497: Dr. Carl Knox served from 1962-84, followed by Dr. Dan Neuenswander (1984-92), Dr. Al Azinger (1992-98), Dr. Kathleen Williams (1998-2000), Randy Weseman (2000-09), Dr. Rick Doll (2009-16), Kyle Hayden (2016-17), Dr. Anna Stubblefield (2017-18), and Dr. Anthony S. Lewis (2018-2024). 

Lawrence school superintendents prior to the consolidation of USD 497, include: